The error of the New Apostolic Reformation

NAR pioneer and chief theologian C. Peter Wagner dies by Holly Pivec, 10/22/16C. Peter Wagner, one of the most influential leaders in the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), died Friday at age 86. Many people who are part of the global NAR movement have been deeply influenced by Wagner without knowing it. In short, he did the heavy lifting theologically for the movement. Wagner was a professor of church growth at Fuller Theological Seminary, where he taught for 30 years (1971 to 2001). He first coined the term New Apostolic Reformation to refer to the growing number of churches in the 1990s that started to accept the idea of present-day apostles. He wrote six books on the topic of apostles. He was the presiding leader over the International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders during its formative years, from 2001 to 2010. Not all NAR leaders worked directly with Wagner or even agreed with all his teachings. Even so, there is significant overlap between the teachings of many NAR leaders and those of Wagner. To understand NAR, one must understand Wagners views. Though Wagner is gone, his influence on the NAR movement is lasting as the baton of NAR teachings is carried on by others, including Bill Johnson, senior pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, California., and Mike Bickle, founder of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri.

Wrestling with Alligators, Prophets and Theologians: Lessons from a Lifetime in the Church A Memoir is the autobiography of C. Peter Wagner, the head apostle of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). An analysis by Jackie Alnor, 10/24/16What strikes the reader is that Wagners memoirs show an evolution of theology that adapts itself to whatever trends invade the church. What Wagner boasts as being paradigm shifts in his spirituality actually demonstrate his lack of any biblical moorings. He tries to convince the reader of his academic prowess, while exposing his spiritual shallowness. The book gives the reader insights into what makes this so-called apostle tick. Wagner seems quite honest in his self-assessment and does not seem to mind exposing his humanistic attitude towards all things religious. What is very much lacking in this book is any Christian testimony of the greatness of God and the Lord Jesus Christ and knowing Him as his personal Savior. It is more an overview of what he calls his career in church growth, academics and influence upon others.

The Roots and Fruits of the New Apostolic Reformation by Bob DeWaay, 6/10/10This article explores the idea of apostles in the church throughout church history. In it I will show that the restoration/Latter Rain idea that fuels the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is unbiblical and dangerous to the well-being of Christians who become part of it. First we will review how the early church understood apostles in church history. Then we will examine the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching about apostolic authority. From there we will examine the ideas of a 17th-century mystic given new life in the Latter Rain movement, and now the NAR.

The Roots and Fruits of the New Apostolic Reformation by Bob DeWaay, Critical Issues Commentary, Issue 103 – November / December 2007
Church history has shown that whenever new claimants to the office of apostle have arisen, so have false teachings. The teachings of many such persons today, as we have seen, are shocking in the extremity of their error. Yet C. Peter Wagner claims that churches that he terms “apostolic” in this new sense are part of the fastest growing segment of the church in the world today.34 Perhaps he is right; but if he is, this is proof of massive end time apostasy and not the revival he claims it to be. The only binding authority in the church is that of Scripture. God does not bind us to mixture, error, or the musings of men. The false apostles and prophets of the NOLR and NAR have no power over the true, blood-bought church of God. Prophets that are less than inerrant have nothing to sell but fear: “When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:22). The grandiose claims that span from Leade, to Warnock, to Branham, to Paulk, and to Hamon have never come to pass, and they never will. There will be no virgin born, many-membered man-child, Elijah company, new breed of man, new incarnation of the Christ on earth or any other such blasphemy. The role these terms describe is that of antichrist. The true Christ will return bodily and catch his church up to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Open Letter to C. Peter Wagner of NAR by Prof. Johan Malan, Mossel Bay, South Africa (2011.08.24)I address this Open Letter to you in response to your article, The New Apostolic Reformation: an Update (Aug. 19, 2011).Evangelical Christians everywhere, but particularly also here in South Africa, have to take issue with you for deceptively presenting the NAR as a movement which subscribes to “all the standard classic statements of Christian doctrine”, for creating false expectations of introducing God’s kingdom on earth by, among others, using an unbiblical form of strategic spiritual warfare, for completely negating biblical prophecies on the end-time, and also for associating a Christian reformation with the African Independent Church Movement.

A Response To “An Urgent Message From Peter” by Sandy Simpson, 8/20/11This is my response to the email from C. Peter Wagner attempting to explain why the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement is not a cult. From my perspective he digs himself in deeper by showing the lack of substantiation from the Bible for what the NAR promotes. Following you will find the full text of his email and my comments.

We have to have discernment when talking about Eschatology withstanding the apostasy in the contemporary church that The Word of God warns would precede the return of Jesus. With the Conviction that ……